Calming DR-CAFTA concerns

[NewsWhore]

The government has announced that ten Dominican agricultural products will be protected once the DR-CAFTA free trade agreement with the United States and Central America comes into effect. Rice, milk, pork and chicken, beans, corn, onions and garlic are all on the list. Agriculture Minister Salvador Jimenez also informed that these products would remain protected for a period of either 10 or 20 years. Jimenez says that the protection of these products is aimed at mitigating the effects of DR-CAFTA on the Dominican agricultural sector and that all mechanisms for the implementation of the free trade agreement have been carefully considered. Jimenez, speaking to El Caribe newspaper yesterday, did however press for more funds for the nation's agricultural sector, because according to him it is the only direct way of supporting production in the rural areas. Jimenez asked for a budget of RD$9 billion, compared to the current budget of RD$2.5 billion, and reminded the public that according to the World Trade Organization, 6% of state resources should be directed towards agriculture, thus justifying a RD$9 billion budget. Jimenez says that if the sector had more money it would provide the country with a better service. Agriculture contributes RD$96 billion to the country's GDP. Today, the Senate begins to study the revised bills for the implementation of DR-CAFTA, submitted by the President last week.

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